Machine for cleaning receptacles



Sept. 9, 1952 H. M. KENDALL MACHINE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1949 INVENTOR HAROLD M- KENDALL M M ATI'QQNBaB am ml p 1952 H. M. KENDALL 2,609,916

MACHINEFOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 3, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 YSNIH Q'IOD NNUG a '"uAR LD M. KENDALL ATT RNEYS P 9, 1952 H. M. KENIQDALL 2,609,916

MACHINE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 3, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 1 &

6 5 0 w a a Q 0 o A k o r o o a a) q FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

HAROLD M. KENDALL ATTOR N Exs Sept. 9, 1952 H. M. KENDALL 2,509,916

MACHINE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 3, 1949 5 Sheet s'-Sheet 4 HAROLD M- KENDAL ATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1952 H. M. KENDALL 2,609,916

MACHINE'FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 3, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8.

' IN VEN T 0R. HAROLD M. KENDALL ATTOQNLYS Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,609,916 MACHINE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES' Harold. M. Kendall, Potsdam, N. Y. Application September 3, 1949, Serial No."114,04c

This invention relates to an improved machine for cleaning receptacles and receptacle covers and, more especially, for cleaning milk cans and covers.

.It is an object of the invention to provide a compact, improved can washing machine of the type wherein the cans are intermittently fed to successive washing, steaming anddr-ying stations in inverted position, the machine being arranged and constructed in such a manner as to greatly conserve space in contrast with conventional Washing machines of the same general type.

Another object of the invention is the provision vof a machine of the character indicated which is designed and constructed in such a manner as to prevent the rinsing and wash waters used in the preliminary stages of the cleaning 4 Claims. (01. 198-82) operation from contaminating the cans that are being sterilized and dried in the latter stages of the operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a can washing machine having but one,

open end and a central partition defining a pair of. cleaning compartments on both sides thereof and wherein the path of travel of the cans is reversed so that the cleaned uprighted cans are delivered at the front opening in full viewof the operator, thereby providing better inspection and control of the cleaning operation and allowing the operator to; stopthe machine in the event of fouling or jamming of the cans.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character indicated which will allow the incoming and outgoing can conveyors to run side by side and to pass through the same opening in the building or processing plant in which the machine is located.

The foregoing objects as Well as additional objects andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying. drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a return-line can washer incorporating the features of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i N

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3.3 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the coverindexing mechanism including means at the closed end of the can washer for moving the covers in an arcuate or semi-circular. path from the washing compartment to the sterilizing and drying compartment and reversing the path of travel of the covers; l

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; v i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the initial phase of movement of the rotary can indexing mechanism atthe closed end of the can washer and the correlative movement of the oppositely reciprocating can indexing mechanism in the first and second compartments of the can washer; i

.Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, illustrating a subsequent step in the movement of the rotary can indexing mechanism and the linear oppositely reciprocating can indexing mechanism and showing the manner in which the can-indexing fingers release the respective cans at the termination of the clockwise stroke of the rotary mechanism prior to the reassumption of the operative position illustrated in Fig.2; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the operation of the rotary indexing mechanism for both the cans and their respective covers.

Heretofore, it has been well known to clean milk cans by intermittently feeding the cans in inverted position through a machine having a plurality of cleaning stations at which the cans were successively subjected to the action of rinsing water, washing water, steam, air and the like. In machines of this type the cans have been fed through the machine in a linear path, entering the machine at one end and leaving it at the opposite end. Health department regulations have required an increasing number of treating stations resulting in the use of straight line machines of considerable length, for example, one conventional type can washer having a capacity of 16 cans per minute is 24 ft. 10 /2 inches in overall length and 3 ft. wide. Thus, in many cases plants have found it necessary to make extensive repairs and remodeling in their facilities which frequently involves rebuilding existing weigh stands at great expense. 9

, Furthermore, the control of the wash water in conventional straight line can washers and the prevention of contamination of the cans being sterilized and dried in the final stages of the operation has been exceedingly difiicult since the distance between the can in the'last washing position and the can in the first steaming position is relatively short. The outside wash for the cans is normally carried out in a continuous operation, in contrast to the inside wash which is usually intermittent, and the tendency of the wash water to splash upon the cans being steamed and dried results not only in contamination but also militates against efficient drying.

However, by the practice of the present invention, the indicated disadvantages of conventional straight-line washers are completely eliminated. In the present machine, which may be conveniently designated a return-line washer, only one opening is provided for the entrance and eXit of cans, the machine being formed with a central partition defining a pair of compartments on both sides thereof and the path of travel of the cans being reversed at the closed end of the washer to return the cleaned and uprighted cans to the common entrance and exit opening at the front of the washer. Thus the washing operations are confined entirely to one side of the central partition in the entrance compartment and the steaming and drying operations are carried,

out on the opposite side of the central partition in the exit compartment with the result that it is impossible for contaminated Wash Water to contactthe cans'being steamed and dried. Moreover, the present return-line washer results in a great saving of space over the conventional Straight-line washer, the return-line washer being approximately one-half the length and less than twice the width of a conventional washer having'the samecan capacity;

Referring now to'the drawings in greaterdetail, the machine is designated generally by reference numeral l and is provided with a central verticalpartition H defining a first receiving or entrance compartment i2 and a second delivery orexit compartment 13. The cans to be cleanedare inverted and placed in the loading position anterior to the compartment 12. The cans are moved progressively from-station to station within' the machi-newith the mouth of each-can resting slidably upon a main pair of fi xed rails 1'4. A pair of lateral rails -l" may be provided to prevent lateral displacement of the cans as they travel threugh the machine and an auxiliary cen tral rail 1 4d may be disposed intermediate rails M along such'por tions of the path of travel of thecans as are unobstructedby supplemental equipment such as pipes, nozzles, draining tanks and the "like. V V

The mechanism for indexing or feeding the cans-in successive intermittent strokes from station togstation includes novel means for moving the cans in a semicircular or a-rcuate path'at the closed end of the machine in order to reverse the path of travel of the cans-from first compartment [2 into-second compartment (3'. The cans are finally passed. into the-inverter it, after having been steamed and dried in compartment It, to

beupr'ighted and delivered at the front open end e of the machine. Inverter H5 is preferably of the continuously rotating type and its rotation is synchronized with the movement of the can indexing mechanism sothat a can will be'indexed into'the inverter during'the forward movement of the can indexing mechanism tobe subsequently inverted to uprighted position and deposited on stationary can bars- IT on the exit side of the machine anterior to second compartment [3. Alternatively, the inverted'mechanism may be of any other suitable construction such as the interm-itt'ently rotating type described fully in Patent No. 2,129,137, dated September 6, 1938 and issued to Ira H. Kendall. During the operation of the machine the cans are simultaneously moved rearwardly in first compartment I2 and forwardly in second compartment E3 toward the inverter 8 In order to accomplish thiseffect, T-bars H?- in said' first com partment and T-bars 19 in said second compart- 4 merit ereqs'mtamy mounted, as rollers 20, to reciprocate sir'ri ultanfe'ously in oppo ite directions. The recier gauos of the can indexing mechanismincluding i -bar's rs and s rep oduced by the rotation of a gear' wheel 2! disposea n iiiairfshaft 22 and driven from a motor 23 through a suitable gear reduction unit 24, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Shaft 22 carries agear 25 which may form part of a gear train (see Fig. l)

for securing the desired synchronization of rotation of inverter units H5 and 16a. T-bars [9 are interconnected by a cross member 26 carrying a cross pi'n 2'l. and. a pitman 28 connects said cross pin With crank pin 23 of gear wheel 2! so that T-bars l9 will reciprocate in unison upon the rotation of gear wheel 2 i.

The simultaneous reciprocation of T-bars i3 in a direction opposite to that of T-bars I9 may be accomplished by means of a rocker shaft 30 supported insuitable bearings -3'| fixed to the frame of the machine. 'Saidrocker shaft is s'uh stantia'lly parallel to a shaft 2 2 and carries at ment EZand forwardly in second compairtmerit 1 3 toward the inverter uni-t i6. Opposed pairs of can indexing fingersor feeding dogs Ail-are pivotally mounted-along T-bars I 8 and it at for-engaging the necks of the inverted cans and sliding' the cans along the fixed rails M. Feeding dogs 40 are preferably L-shaped and arepivotally 'con nected at their outer ends to longitudinally movable dog-bars 1'81; and Mia in compartments I 2 and 1 3 respectively. Feeding-dog's 4 0 are retained in limiting operative position,illustratedin'Figs.

ably disposed a'long T-bars l iiand ['9'. "The movement of dog-bars l8a and 13a at the termination of the forward and retractive'strokesof'T bars I8 and i9 causes the feeding dogs M' to alternately assume their inoperative open position (shown in Fig. 7) a'nd'their closed operative position (shown in Figs-2 and 6.). For this purpose, dog-bars [Ba and [9a are provided with spring rods 43 whichoperatively engage fixed stops 4 secured 'to't'he central partition II and the frame of the ma chine, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. It is preferred to provide rods 43 with springs 45 in order to absorb the shock of the impact of 's'aidjrods against respective stop's' i l at the termination of the forward and retractive strokes of the 'assembly.

Means are provi'ded adj'a'centthe rear'or closed end of the machine for moving the 'cans' in a semi-circular or arcuate pathin orderto reverse the'direction of travel of the. cans and townvey them from first compartment 12 into second compartment [3 in synchronization with the reciprocatory movement of T-bars l8 and I9. Referring to Fig. 2, it will" be seen that can rails it extend continuously through compartments l2 and i3" and that a'180 degree return bend or curved rail-portion interconnects the oppositely extending linear portions. A- rotatable inner member of segment 59 is preferably carried on a sleeve 5i fixed to a vertical shaft 52 situated of cover track 15 and into the second compartment I3. The construction and mounting of feeding dog 9| is similar to that for the feeding dogs 18 carried by radial arm 85a.

As has been previously pointed out the cans are introduced into the machine by being placed in inverted position on loading plate 10 anterior to first compartment [2. The mating cover for a particular can is simultaneously placed in the cover chute 95 which is preferably provided with a downwardly inclined bottom wall 96 in order to cause the covers to roll toward the mouth of the cover chute preparatory to being disposed on the cover track 15. The cover feeding arrangement assures that a mating cover for a particular can will be fed onto the cover track 15 only when the can enters first compartment [2. For this purpose, the covers are temporarily held at the mouth of cover chute 95 by means of a retaining member or bail 97 pivoted to said chute at 98 and adapted to engage the edge of the cover which projects from the mouth of the chute, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The bottom of cover chute 95 is provided with a deflector plate 99 mounted on a member I which is pivoted to the chute at I0l. By reason of the described arrangement deflector plate 99 is normally disposed above the first feeding dog 18 of dog-bar l9 and retains said feeding dog in inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 5. However, when a can is fed into the machine, plate 99 is laterally deflected thereby allowing the mating cover for the can to be engaged by the first feeding dog 18. In this manher, the feeding of the cans and their respective mating covers is correlated so that the same mated cans and covers are discharged from the machine that were initially fed into the machine.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the covers are discharged .into a delivery chute I05 down which each cover slides by gravity to its respective uprighted can on which the cover is retained in a tilted position. An auxiliary chute I06 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine at I01 and is arranged to be alternately elevated and lowered so as to allow the can being discharged from the machine to pass unobstructedly thereunder into the dotted outline position of Fig. l but also to insure subsequent positive feeding of the cover onto the mouth of the can. For this purpose, a rocker arm I03 having an elongated slot I09 engaging a lateral pin H0 of chute I06 is connected to rocker shaft 30 by means of a linkage Ill.

Since certain modifications may be made in the machine of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A machine for continuously cleaning receptacles which are open at one end and closed at the other end, said machine being open at one end for the reception and delivery of receptacles thereat, said machine having a central longitudinal partition defining a first washing compartment and a second sterilizing and drying compartment on the other side thereof, supporting elements for the receptacles extending in a linear direction within said first compartment and extending in a reverse linear direction within said second compartment toward the open end of the machine, said supporting elements having an ar- (mate return-bend portion interconnecting the linear portions thereof, a plurality of treating stations spaced along said supporting elements, first main intermittently operating feeding means within said first compartment, second main intermittently operating feeding means within said second compartment, said first and second feeding means being arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions and being operative to feed said receptacles from station to station within said first and second compartments along the linear portions of said supporting elements, said first and second feeding means having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally mounted thereon, longitudinally extending dogbars pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said first and second feeding means and operative to move said feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively, and auxiliary rotary feeding means actuated by one of said main feeding means and operative to feed the receptacles along the arcuate portion of said supporting elements, said auxiliary rotary feeding means comprising inner and outer segments rotatable in unison, said inner and outer segments having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally mounted thereon, arcuate dog-bars pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said last-mentioned feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective arcuate dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said rotary feeding means and operative to move said last-mentioned feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively in synchronization with the opening and closing of the feeding dogs of said first and second main feeding means.

2. A machine for continuously cleaning receptacles which are open at one end and closed at the other end, said machine being open at one end for the reception and delivery of receptacles thereat, said machine having a central partition defining a first washing compartment and a second sterilizing and drying compartment on the other side thereof, supporting elements for the receptacles extending in a linear direction within said first compartment and extending in a reverse linear direction within said second compartment toward the open end of the machine, said supporting elements having an arcuate return-bend portion interconnecting the linear portions thereof, a plurality of treating stations spaced along said supporting elements, first main intermittently operating feeding means Within said first compartment, second main intermittently operating feeding means within said second compartment, said first and second feeding means being arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions and being operative to feed said receptacles from station to station within said first and second compartments along the linear portions of said supporting elements, said first and second feeding means having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally mounted thereon, longitudinally extending dog-bars pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said first and second feeding means and operative to move said feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively, and auxiliary rotary feeding means 9 actuated by one of said main feeding means and operative to feed the receptacles along the arcuate portion of said supporting elements, said machine also having a cover-supporting track extending therethrough substantially parallel to and on a higher level than said receptacle-supporting element, said cover track having a plurality of notches adapted to receive the annular first main intermittently operating cover-feeding means within said first compartment, second main intermittently operating cover-feeding means within said second compartment, said first and second cover-feeding mean being arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions, said cover track having an arcuate portion disposed at the closed end of the machine between said first and second compartments and rotary cover-feeding means operative to feed the receptacle covers along the arcuate portion of said cover track, said auxiliary rotary receptacle-feeding means comprising inner and outer segments rotatable in unison, said inner and outer segments having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said last-mentioned feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective arcuate dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said rotary receptacle-feeding means and operative to move said last mentioned feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively in synchronization with the opening and closing of the feeding dogs of said first and second main feeding means.

3. A machine for continuously cleaning receptacles which are open at one end and closed at the other end, said machine being open at one end for the reception and delivery of receptacles thereat, said machine having a central longitudinal partition defining a first washing compart ment and a second sterilizing and drying compartment on the other side thereof, supporting elements for the receptacles extending in a linear direction within said first compartment and extending in a reverse linear direction within said second compartment toward the open end of the machine, said supporting elements having an arcuate return-bend portion interconnecting the linear portions thereof, a plurality of treating stations spaced along said supporting elements, first main intermittently operating feeding means within said first compartment, second main intermittently operating feeding means within said second compartment, said first and second feeding means being arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions and being operative to feed said receptacles from station to station within said first and second compartments along the linear portions of said supporting elements, said first and second feeding means having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally mounted thereon, longitudinally extending dogbars pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said first and second feeding means and operative to move said feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively, and auxiliary rotary feeding means actuated by on of said main feeding mean and operative to feed the receptacles along the arcuate portion of said supporting elements, said machine also having a cover-supporting track extending therethrough substantially parallel to and on a higher level than said receptacle-supporting element, said cover track having a plurality of notches adapted to receive the annular flanges of the receptacle covers and defining cover-treating stations along said cover track, first main intermittently operating cover-feeding means within said first compartment, second main intermittently operating cover-feeding means within said second compartment, said first and second cover-feeding means being arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions, said cover track having an arcuate portion disposed at the closed end of the machine between said first and, second compartments and rotary cover-feeding means operative to feed the receptacle covers along the arcuate portion of said cover track, said rotary cover-feeding means comprising radially extending arms terminating adjacent the arcuate porthe other end, said machine being open at the front end for the reception and delivery of receptacles thereat, supporting elements for the receptacles which are disposed in a first linear section which extends longitudinally rearwardly from said front end, a second linear section which extends longitudinally reversely to said front end, and an arcuate return bend section which connects the end of said first section to the beginning of said second section, a plurality of treating stations spaced along said supporting elements, first and second intermittently operating feeding means which are arranged to reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions and which are operative to feed said receptacles from station to station respectively along said first and second section in opposite directions, and auxiliary rotary feeding means actuated by one of said main feeding means and operative to feed the receptacles along the arcuate section of said supporting elements, said auxiliary feeding means comprising inner and outer segments rotatable in unison, said inner and outer segments having opposed pairs of feeding dogs pivotally mounted thereon, arcuate dog-bars pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said last-mentioned feeding dogs, fixed stops arranged to abut respective arcuate dog-bars at the termination of the advancement and retraction of said rotary feeding means and operative to move said last-mentioned feeding dogs to open inoperative position and closed operative position respectively in synchronization with the intermittent operation of said first and second feeding means.

HAROLD M. KENDALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,845,313v McKinley Feb. 16, 1932 1,902,238 I-Iippenmeyer Mar. 21, 1933 1,998,757 Hank Apr. 23, 1935 2,023,431 McClotchie Dec. 10, 1935 2,493,465 Persson Jan. 3, 1950 

